17 August 2023 , 11:57
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A London Underground station has been shut with thousands evacuated after a fire.
Emergency services rushed to Moorgate around 11.30am after getting more than 40 reports that a blaze had broken out. Images show smoke billowing up from the tube station as firefighters tackle it.
London Fire Brigade said that six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were responding to a fire in Moorgate. It tweeted that a "large amount of smoke is being produced by the fire" and that they had taken over 40 calls reporting the incident. The Brigade was first called at 11.22am. Crews from Whitechapel, Euston, Poplar and surrounding fire stations are in attendance. The cause of the fire is not yet known," it stated.
People evacuated from the tube station (@CharterhouseSq/Twitter)And an update said: "Around 1200 people have been evacuated from the area as a precaution." The smoke was from a fire in a "disused officer block" and a room on the tenth floor of the building was destroyed in the blaze. City of London Police have also closed several roads in the area - Moorfields, Wood Street and Fore Street. The fire brigade said at around 1pm that the fire had been brought under control.
A statement from fire brigade said: "Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters responded to a fire on Moorfields in Moorgate. A large amount of smoke was being produced by the fire, which occurred in a disused office block.
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Plumes of smoke can be seen coming from a building (@LondonFire/Twitter)
Dozens of firefighters tackled the blaze (@LondonTrafficW1/Twitter)"The plant room on the tenth floor, in a building of eleven floors, was destroyed by fire. Around 1200 people were evacuated from surrounding buildings in the area as a precaution. There are no reports of any injuries. Control Officers have taken over 40 calls reporting the incident. The Brigade was first called at 1122, and the fire was under control by 1248. Crews from Whitechapel, Euston, Poplar and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. The cause of the fire is not yet known."
Many people took to social media who were near the scene. "Looks like a major fire in the building above the Rack & Tenter pub at Moorgate. Stinks of plastics," said one person on Facebook.